Live Review: Ladyhawke and American Royalty at Barboza

Ladyhawke kept the audience bouncing all night with her 80s influenced rock and synth pop in the dark and narrow Barboza Wednesday night. Charmingly bashful Kiwi, Phillipa Brown, better known as Ladyhawke, shared a drink with a fan and seamlessly weaved in and out of songs old and new. Brown was backed by talented and stoic musicians who seemed to want nothing to do there but play. Having only released two full-length albums, the crowd was able to enjoy a set full of all of their old favorites as well as new material from 2012 release Anxiety.The band played hits “Back of the Van,” “Magic,” “Professional Suicide,” from Ladyhawke and the latest, “Anxiety,” “Black, White and Blue,” “Girl Like Me,” and “Sunday Drive.”

Ladyhawke at Barboza, photos by Valerie Skubal

Near the end of the show, the band performed a cover of Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit,” which was very unchanged and low-key but closed the show on a high note with classic, “My Delirium.” Brown also announced she would be at the W Hotel DJ-ing “embarrassing,” but “fun” music right after the show.

American Royalty at Barboza, photos by Valerie Skubal

Los Angeles’ American Royalty opened for Ladyhawke last night playing an eclectic mix-up of rock n’ roll and synth-y dance beats enveloped in bluesy vocals and hip hop drums. The trippy lighting on the basement set the appropriate tone for the psychedelic three piece. It took a little bit of time for them to gain steam, but finally the crowd was dancing and the band was having a good time. The young band has only been together for two years, releasing their second EP Matchstick digitally back in February.